Process of producing ferrosilicon.



No. 882,417. PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908.

E. F. PRICE.

PROCESS OF PRODUCING PERROSILICON.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.14. 1905.

Wzrcesaea I 71 uenor:

a Mg 94 @4402) bar/awful through the tap-holes.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR FQPRIGE, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CENTRAL TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK, TRUSTEE DER FIRST MORTGAGE.

-PROCESS OF PRODUCING FEBROSILIOON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 17., 1908.

Application filed November 14, 1905. Serial No. 287,848. I

To all whom elf/clay concern:

Be'it known that'I', EDGAR F. PRICE, a citizen of the United States, residing at N iagara Falls, in the county of Nia ara and State of New York, have invente' certain new and useful Im rovements in Processes of iroducing Ferrosi 'con, of which the followmg is a splecification.

Accor 'ng to the present process, a charge containing a silicon compound, carbon and a source of iron, is smelted by means of an electrically-heated resistance-conductor. The product is tapped out of the furnace and the charge-mixture is supplied as required, the process thus being a continuous one.

body of the charge is preferably employed as the resistance-conductor and the charge is graduall brou ht to the temperature of reduction y em oying an electric current the density of whic increases through the charge;

A suitable electric resistance furnace is shown in the accompanyin 7 drawing, in

which the figure is a vertica axial section The furnace is a vertical stack comprising a downwardly-convergingbody 1 of refractory electrically-noncon uctive material, such as .magnesia, silica, siloxicon or chromite, surrounded by a water-jacket 2. The body is supported u on a horizontal metal plate 3, preferably 0 cast-steel, having a chamber 4 for thecirculation of water and an electric terminal 5. This plate constitutes the lower electrode. Supported upon the bod 1 but insulated therefrom by a ayer 6 of re actory non-conductive material is the upper electrode 7, a downwardly-converging waterjacketed iron rin havin a terminal 8, the

inner surface of t e ring eing bare so that it may contact with the charge. I Supported upon the ring-electrode is an iron dome 9 which carries a bell-arid-hopper charging mechanism 10. An'outlet flue 11 for waste gases extends from the dome. Tap-holes 12, 13 extend through the bodyl at different heights. In employin this furnace to carry out the process, an electrically-conductive charge is fed into the furnace until it (:OXFI'S he charge may consist of a mixture ofsilica,

iron oriron-ore and coke, the ingredients be.

ing in such proportion as to make it aconductor. when hot. Initial currentaths between the electrodesmay be provi ed. The

through the upper tap-hole 12.

required, as set ort conductivity of the charge may be increased by using a mixture containing lumps of coke or magnetite, or pieces of iron, which lie in contact-With each other at various points and thereby afford direct paths for the flow of current. An electric current is\then passed between the electrodes and through the charge, serving as a resistance conductor, and the charge is thereby heated, the temperature increasing toward the hearth by;

reason of the decreasing cross-section and increasin current and ener y density, to a zone w ere reduction is eEected. The reduced silicon and iron form a molten alloy, which collects in the lower part ,of the furnace and may be withdrawn through the taphole 13. A layer 14= of the alloy solidifies upon th'e base-plate 3 and thereafter serves as thelower electrode. If the charge contains impurities, any resulting slag is removed 1. The continuous process of producing ferrosilicon, which consists in smelting a charge containing a silicon compound, carbon and a source of iron, by means of an electrically-heatedresistance conductor, withdrawing the molten product from the furnace, and suppl ing1 the charge-mixture as 2. The process of reducing ferrosilicon, which consists in sme ting a charge containing. a silicon compound, carbon and a source of iron, by passing an electric current through the charge, serving as a resistance-conductor, withdrawing the iioduct from the furnace, and suppl ing t e charge-mixture as required, as set orth.

3. The process of producing ferrosilicon, which consists in smelting a charge containing a silicon compound, carbon and a source of iron, by passing an electric current through the charge, serving as a resistance-conduc tor, and increasing the current or energy den- :sity through the charge to a point wherercduction is effected, withdrawing the product from the furnace, and supplying the charge mixture as required, as set forth.

Intestimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDGAR F. PRICE.

' Witnesses:

G. E. Cox, D.'BURGESS. 

